Dealing with back pain while having to still carry out the necessary duties and activities of your daily routine is an enormous task. And while many treatments and remedies may be prescribed, not all of them prove to be effective or provide long-term relief.
This is why Ayurvedic medicine is viewed as the best course of treatment for back pain. With a number of remedies and treatment options that are both specific and effective, Ayurveda provides relief while helping you achieve vitality of mind and body.
Ayurveda: A Holistic Approach to Treating Pain
Ayurveda is an ancient system of healing based on an individual’s specific physical, mental, and spiritual equilibrium.
Originating in India many millennia ago, Ayurvedic medicine has gained prominence due to its natural and holistic approach in treating a wide range of ailments. Ayurvedic medicine focuses on promoting and maintaining a healthy balance of mind and body, rather than simply treating the symptoms of a disease.
Ayurveda for Back Pain
Back pain is one the most physically limiting conditions that affects over 80% of adults at some point in their lives. Back pain, particularly lower back pain, is no longer restricted to the elderly either. It has a great many causes that may cause varying degrees of pain.
From a dull ache confined to the lower part of your back to muscle spasms along the length of your spine. These symptoms can affect your mobility, and even affect the time that you may spend comfortably sitting, standing, or laying down.
The holistic approach of treating back pain with Ayurvedic remedies takes into consideration the root cause of this ailment, thereby providing complete and effective treatment.
Some of the common causes of back pain in adults are:
- Bad posture
- Inactive lifestyle
- Muscle strain or injury
- Fracture or sprain to spine
- Ligament damage due to heavy lifting
- Infections
- Obesity
- Osteoporosis
- Arthritis
- Ankylosing spondylitis
- Scoliosis
- Herniated disc
- Nerve impingement
- Anxiety
Naturally, with so many possible causes, it becomes crucial to understand exactly where the imbalance has occurred, in order to effectively treat back pain.
An aggravation of the Vata dosha and lifestyle imbalances are generally linked to back pain. Ayurveda utilises a combination of herbal remedies, topical applications, detoxifications, massages, and lifestyle changes to restore balance, and promote muscle and bone strength.
This amalgamation of internal and external remedies is proven to be highly effective in not just treating the symptom of pain, but also treating its underlying cause.
Ayurvedic Treatments
There are many powerful Ayurvedic treatments that have shown to be helpful in relieving back pain while restoring balance within the body and mind. Some of the most effective ones that are quick to provide relief include:
Ayurvedic massages
A specialised ayurvedic massage, Abhayanga, incorporates the use of lots of warm, Dosha-specific oil that is infused with herbs.
With gentle rubbing and pressure, Abhayanga helps lubricate the joints while toning the muscles. It also nourishes the body, improves circulation, and stimulates internal organs. All of which promote joint and tissue health, and bring balance to aggravated doshas.
Specific to the lower back and lumbar region, Kati Vasti involves continuously pouring warm, herbal oil over the lower back for up to 40 minutes, after which the area is gently massaged.
Kat Vasti is extremely effective in strengthening the lower back muscles and reducing stiffness. For this reason, it is useful both as a preventive and curative therapy.
A distinct rejuvenation treatment that utilises pouches of cooked rice mixed with milk and herbal extracts, Njavarakizhi provides stress relief, induces elimination of toxins through sweating, strengthens muscles, and even treats nerve damage.
As an added benefit, Njavarakizhi is wonderfully effective in improving the texture of your skin, helping you look and feel better.
With numerous types of Ayurvedic massages, that differ not only in their method, but also in the oils used, duration, and part of the back that is focused on, it is vitally important that these massages are administered by an experienced ayurvedic therapist to ensure their efficacy.
Detoxification and cleansing
An important aspect of restoring balance within the body involves the removal of toxic materials that have accumulated over time. The practice of Panchakarma involves a combination of therapies including:
- Herbal oil massages
- Steam baths
- Enemas (Basti)
- Laxatives
- Nasal administration
- Specialised diets
All of these therapies work together with the aim of detoxifying, relieving stress, healing, and revitalising the body and mind.
Rest and relaxation
When the back pain is caused by trauma or injury, it is imperative that adequate rest is taken to ensure that you don’t worsen the injury and give time for healing to take place.
Limiting your activities and ceasing contact sports can also help support the healing process.
Movement
Along with rest, gentle exercise is equally important to promote recovery. Regular exercise prevents your muscles from becoming too stiff and speeds up healing.
However, it is crucial that you select an activity that does not worsen back pain, but instead eases the pain while relieving stiffness. Some of the best exercises for back pain include walking, swimming, or yoga.
Yoga poses such as the Child’s pose, Cat pose, Triangle pose, and Bridge pose in particular are proven to be effective in reducing back ache.
Stress relief
One of the leading causes of back pain is anxiety and stress. Therefore, practicing stress-relieving techniques directly leads to a significant reduction in back pain.
Meditation and Pranayama have both been linked to reducing stress while at the same time restoring balance and calm. Similarly, fundamental practices such as getting sufficient sleep are key to helping reduce stress levels.
Diet
A wholesome, Ayurvedic diet that calms the vata dosha, while providing the required calcium and vitamins, is recommended for back pain.
Light, easily digestible, warm foods that promote elimination and treat constipation are ideal for easing and lessening pain.
Conclusion
Back pain is a debilitating condition that should not be ignored. Not only can it restrict you and severely affect the quality of your life, it can also be a symptom of a deeper, more serious issue.
Ayurveda helps to treat back pain, while also treating its underlying cause. This is because Ayurveda treats both internal and external ailments simultaneously. The natural and holistic nature of Ayurvedic medicine enables you to achieve overall physical and mental health, while the different remedies, massages, and lifestyle changes eases back pain and restores balance, making it the perfect treatment for back pain.
If you are suffering from back pain and looking for a lasting and effective treatment plan, visit us at The Ayurvedic Clinic today. Our panel of experienced Ayurvedic consultants can guide you towards the most natural and holistic practices that restore balance, calm an aggravated vata dosha, and provide relief from back pain.